Because Little Joe is great, but he is a fantastic #2 center, not a #1

Pavelski is absolutely a number 1 center on a number of NHL teams. He might be considered a tweener by many, but hell, if you are getting an elite "2nd line center" with a top 10 pick in the draft...most teams would take that.

Pavelski is absolutely a number 1 center on a number of NHL teams. He might be considered a tweener by many, but hell, if you are getting an elite "2nd line center" with a top 10 pick in the draft...most teams would take that.

I cant think of one team Pavelski is a number one center on. Calgary, maybe?

If he was a #1 center it would be like Brendan Morrsion between Bertuzzi and Naslund in their primes, does the job, but you always wish someone else was there.

This thread is about Strome so I wont derail any further....I could see the Pavelski comparison a bit though.

He honestly looks like a bigger Briere to me. The way he moves around the ice with the puck and that deadly slapper off the wing. His patience and playmaking around the corners. Dead ringer. Briere is 5'9" (if that) and is super effective in the NHL, imagine the 6'1" version of him... that's Strome.

My bold, gut prediction is that he is a riser and makes a late charge like Johansen did last year. Subsequently pushing Couturier out of the top 4 on draft day. Seems like a pretty special player.

I understand he is a Toronto kid so it's most likely his dream to play NHL puck one day. Does a team drafting between 3-7 this year take a stab at him considering they are pretty solid up the middle? Can Strome play the off side wing? Or Centre is his only projection? Can he forecheck and dig pucks out?

Yeah his one-timer is vicious. With the way Ottawa is playing, unless he gets picked higher than he's projected I would be surprised if we didn't take him unless someone like Landeskog/Couturier fell to us.

I would love for the Avalanche to have the decision of RNH, Landeskog, Larsson, or Couturier with their pick.

But I think RNH to the Oil is pretty much set in stone.

Tambellini has that look in his eye when it comes to RNH.

Plus he developed right there in Western Canada so I think it's a given.

Strome is very good but I don't think he has as much propulsion behind him as RNH.

But I still think Strome could end up being the most talented player out of the draft. I've seen some clips of him that shows that he has speed and talent and those are two of the biggest ingredients to a successful NHL career.

I bet if he goes to Anaheim (like I think he will) he could be in the NHL next year a la Skinner and put up respectable numbers like 20 goals and 25 assists or something.

IMO, big mistake to take him #1 and this is coming from a guy that would be happy to snatch him up with Atlanta's pick. I think he tops out like a 70-80 point guy. I'm gonna catch a lot of flak for this but he reminds me of Alex Semin. A very good talent but never a guy who takes over a game. RNH and Larsson and possibly even Couturier & mebbe Duncan Siemens have that "take over the game" potential. He's not a franchise guy so to speak, at least not as much as the other options at #1.

IMO, big mistake to take him #1 and this is coming from a guy that would be happy to snatch him up with Atlanta's pick. I think he tops out like a 70-80 point guy. I'm gonna catch a lot of flak for this but he reminds me of Alex Semin. A very good talent but never a guy who takes over a game. RNH and Larsson and possibly even Couturier & mebbe Duncan Siemens have that "take over the game" potential. He's not a franchise guy so to speak, at least not as much as the other options at #1.

So you've obviously never watched either of them play? Alexander Semin is one of the few players in the league that can take over a game like nobody else. Strome also has the ability to really turn the tide of a game on his own, though not in the way that Semin can. Strome is very consistent though in his contributions.